Bipolar Disorder: A silent killer Photogallery

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Over the years, issues regarding mental illnesses have come at the forefront due to many celebrities coming forward and talking about it. Carrie Fisher, who recently passed away suffered from bipolar disorder. Here's a brief look into this mental illness.

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Bipolar disorder is a disorder of mood. It involves spectrum of mood swings with very high mood which is called mania and very low mood called depression.

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It is caused by the fluctuations on serotonin in the brain.

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Symptoms of mania include grandiose talks and ideas, decreased need for sleep, increased spending and taking impulsive/ rash decisions.

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Alcohol and other substances increase during manic phase. Typically a manic phase can last for 15 days to a month.

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Symptoms of depression include sadness of mood, decreased sleep & appetite, hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, no motivation and suicidal ideation.

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Typically a depressive phase of bipolar disorder can last for 2-6 months, while unipolar depression can last for years.

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A more common variant of bipolar disorder which is more common has hypo manic symptoms instead of pure mania. In this, the symptoms have less intensity but last longer.

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The treatment of bipolar disorder includes medications to stabilize the serotonin and mood stabilizer depending on the manic/ depressive phase in which the patient is brought to the psychiatrist.

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Psycho education of patient and relatives about bipolar disorder and associated substance use is very important, so patients adhere to maintain therapy.

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